Soon enough, the remaining few customers finished their meals.

"We’re heading out, Brother Jiang. The buns today were just as amazing as ever, and the juice was delicious too. You get a big thumbs-up from us!"

"What time do you open tomorrow, Boss? Your stuff is incredible. I’ve never had a beer this smooth and rich before."

Jiang Liu replied, "We officially open at seven in the morning. You can come line up early if you want."

"Alright, I’ve wiped the table for you. Get home and rest up so you can open early tomorrow."

Jiang Liu: ...

"Boss Jiang, let me help you mop. It’s getting late. Finish up quickly so you can go home and sleep."

Once all the customers had gone, the exhaustion weighing on Jiang Liu finally began to lift.

By now, his TikTok follower count had already reached eighty thousand.

More customers meant more work.

Jiang Liu went into the kitchen to cook dinner.

The dining area was empty of customers now.

Jun Qingmeng and Tongtong dropped their ladylike facades and affectionately clung to Jiang Liu’s side.

"Daddy, your little cutie’s tummy is hungry! I want some yummy soup!"

"Hubby, your big cutie is hungry too! Hurry up and feed me!"

"Alright, alright, it’s almost ready."

Jiang Liu cranked up the heat and began to stir-fry the slices of tuna.

The aroma of tuna stir-fried with peppers was extraordinary. The seared fragrance of the meat slices filled the air. It tasted a bit like grilled fish, but was far more tender and delicious.

Before long,

Jiang Liu was pouring a large platter of stir-fried tuna with green peppers onto a white serving plate. The shrimp ball soup was also ready, the white meatballs steaming with the rich aroma of shrimp.

Jiang Tongtong ladled out the rice soup, then set the table with three pairs of chopsticks and three empty bowls. She also placed the popcorn off to the side.

Jiang Liu carried out a large tureen of the meatball soup and the plate of stir-fried tuna with peppers, placing them on the table.

"Wowww, it smells so good, Daddy! You’re truly amazing!"

"Hubby~ you’re the best!"

Jiang Liu rolled his eyes at the two flatterers. "Alright, that’s enough from you two. The food’s getting cold. Hurry up and eat. After we’re done, we can go home, flop on the couch, and watch TV."

"Yay! Let’s eat up, quick!"

"Daddy, let your little sweetheart feed you."

"Hubby, come on, open wide."

For these two, a perfect day began with doting on Jiang Liu, and it had to end the same way.

Jiang Liu picked the peppers out of Tongtong’s food for her.

It seemed his daughter took after him in her love for spicy food, but being so young, her tolerance was still pitifully low.

"Thank you, Daddy!" Tongtong chirped, happily eating a slice of meat.

’I’m so happy!’

’And Daddy even bought popcorn today, hehe.’

8:15 PM.

The three of them had completely wiped out the meatball soup and stir-fried tuna.

Jiang Liu and Tongtong leaned back with their eyes half-closed, clutching their full bellies and burping.

The father and daughter were perfectly in sync.

Watching from across the table, Jun Qingmeng giggled to herself.

While letting his food settle, Jiang Liu opened the surveillance app on his phone to take a look at how the new store was doing.

On the screen,

The kitchen was empty.

Hu Yongfa was sitting out in the main dining area, gesturing animatedly. There were red envelopes on the table next to him. Seated before him, four servers, two apprentices, and a cleaner held notebooks, diligently jotting something down.

Jiang Liu nodded in satisfaction.

Hu Yongfa was a dedicated and hardworking store manager.

Jiang Liu opened WeChat and sent Hu Yongfa a message: "Wrap up the meeting soon and let everyone rest. Don’t work the staff too hard. Once Yue Longfan is back, you can switch to a two-shift system, which will free up evenings for training."

Hu Yongfa replied instantly: "Yes, Master! I’ve already drawn up a schedule. Old Yue will work 4 AM to 1 PM, and I’ll take the 12 PM to 9 PM shift."

"We’re still short a cleaner. If Xiao Xue comes back, that’ll give us five servers. We should probably hire three more. When things get busy, having just three on the floor isn’t enough—we need four."

Jiang Liu: "Sounds good. I’ll leave the scheduling to you."

Then, Jiang Liu transferred the operating costs for the new store’s first three days to Hu Yongfa.

He also sent an extra three thousand yuan.

Hu Yongfa: "This is too much, Master."

Jiang Liu: "Part of that three thousand is a bonus for your trouble with recruitment. Use the rest as you see fit."

Hu Yongfa’s heart warmed. "Okay, Master. I’ll set this money aside. I’m thinking of creating a weekly ’Best Service’ award to motivate the staff. We can also use it to reimburse employees if they get sick or have other emergencies."

Jiang Liu replied, "Sounds good," then switched back to the surveillance feed.

He couldn’t hear what Hu Yongfa was telling the staff.

Putting down his phone,

Jiang Liu went to the kitchen to check the water, gas, and electricity.

By the time everything was in order, it was already half-past eight.

"Hubby, can we go home now?" Jun Qingmeng asked, running over expectantly.

She wanted to be tucked into their warm bed with Jiang Liu, sharing whispers.

Jiang Liu smiled. "Let’s go. Are you tired?"

"Not really. I’m never tired when I’m with you, Hubby."

Tongtong chimed in with her sweet voice, "Daddy, Tongtong isn’t tired either! I can still help you with lots of chores."

Jiang Liu raised an eyebrow, deciding to play along.

"Alright then. You stay here and make the buns for tomorrow. Your mom and I will head home and get to sleep."

"Daddy, Tongtong was just kidding! I’m actually very, very tired."

"In that case, once you’ve had your bath, it’s straight to bed. No TV."

"Waaah! You’re bullying your daughter again!"

The three of them pulled the door shut, talking and laughing as they went.

Jiang Liu held Jun Qingmeng’s hand with his right, while Tongtong skipped along, clinging to his left arm.

Passersby cast envious glances toward Jiang Liu.

’In most families, the wife or the kid walks in the middle. But look at this guy, flanked by such a beautiful wife and child!’

’The difference is just too much!’

’Comparing people is just infuriating!’

’I’m so jealous!’

Ever since Jiang Liu opened his shop, Yangzhai Street had become more and more bustling.

The weather was nice today, so many residents were out for a stroll, hoping for a chance encounter with Boss Jiang.

"Little Boss Jiang, you’re finally done? Jeez, it’s already half-past eight! Man, you’ve worked so hard for all of us today. Don’t leave just yet. I just picked these ugly oranges from my relative’s place; take them home for your wife and child."

"What a coincidence, Brother Jiang! This must be your wife, right? You two make a great couple. Ma’am, you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen! Brother Jiang, you’re a lucky man. Oh, right, I just came from Fu Liqiang’s. Take this bag of chestnuts."

"Tongtong, your daddy’s so handsome! And Mister, your bread is super yummy!"

"Boss Jiang, did you finish those strawberries from last time? You did? Well, what a coincidence. A new batch in the greenhouse just ripened, and I can’t seem to sell them. How about you help me take some off my hands?"

They hadn’t walked more than a few steps before running into a string of familiar faces.

There were neighborhood aunties, young mothers out shopping with their kids, and young people heading off to their night shifts.

Everyone knew Jiang Liu, and they all ambled over purely to show their support and affection for Boss Jiang.

After all, Jiang Liu’s food was so delicious that all his customers worried he might close up shop and move away.

By the time they got back to their car,

Jiang Liu had a wry smile on his face. The three of them were laden with bags of all sizes, looking for all the world like they’d just come from a supermarket.

"Well, I guess we won’t have to go grocery shopping anymore," Jiang Liu remarked. "Anything we could possibly want, our neighbors have already given us."

"I’m starting to think they can read minds."

’Half of this is stuff I’ve been wanting to eat.’

.........